MATT SNELL
Fullback
No. 41
Ohio State
"If you want to know how good a running back really is, ask the coach who doesn't own him. Here's what coach Mike Holovak of Boston says about the Jets' Rookie of the Year fullback, Matt Snell: 'He's the next Jimmy Brown of pro football.'
In 1964, Matt finished second only to Cookie Gilchrist among AFL rushers. He gained 948 yards on 215 carries, for a 4.4 average. He also caught 56 passes, tying for seventh in the league.
Matt is fast enough and, at 220 pounds, strong enough to run over what he can't get around. He's a dedicated blocker and can play defense, if necessary. He did it at Ohio State."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"'Matt Snell is pro football's next Jimmy Brown,' predicts head coach Mike Holovak of the New England Patriots. 'He has all the attributes to be just great.'
A 23-year-old fullback, Snell ran away with AFL Rookie of the Year honors last season when he gained 948 yards on 215 rushing attempts and snared 56 passes, good for 393 yards. The powerfully built youngster from Locust Valley, Long Island gave the New York Jets the drawing card they needed to fill brand new Shea Stadium and steal some of the spotlight from the New York Giants from the rival NFL.
Matt was the Jets' top draft choice and the third selection of the Giants. Free-spending owner Sonny Werblin of the Jets won out when he reportedly paid Snell $43,000, including a $23,000 bonus. It proved to be a gilt-edged investment. Says Werblin: 'I've never been more impressed with an individual than I have with Snell. And as a football player, we're glad we have him.'
Matt was born in Swainsboro, Georgia and moved to Long Island with his family when he was six. He attended high school in Carle Place and received no less than 65 college scholarship offers, finally choosing Ohio State where he played under Woody Hayes. Snell was a halfback during his sophomore season, a linebacker and defensive end as a junior, and a linebacker and fullback as a senior. It wasn't easy to switch from the Buckeyes' style of play to the more complex world of pro football.
'The transition was a big one, the biggest I ever made,' says Matt.
But it didn't take Snell long to find his niche. Playing against the Oakland Raiders early last October, the 6'2", 215-pound fullback gained 168 yards. A week later he shattered that mark by piling up 180 yards against Houston, his best effort of the year.
Says head coach Weeb Ewbank: 'Snell is great to work with. He never asks any questions, just goes and does what he's told.'"
-Bill Wise, 1965 Official Pro Football Almanac
"Mighty Matt, with a full year's experience under his belt, will be pushing Keith Lincoln for the title of 'best all-around back in the league' in 1965.
The 6-2, 219-pounder from Ohio State single-handedly provided the New York Jets with a running attack last season. This was not totally unexpected since Snell had been a highly touted runner in college. But what the Jets never anticipated was the way he would learn to block, fake and develop as a pass receiver.
In fact, Snell came on so fast in this latter category that he finished second on the Jets, and seventh in the league. And it didn't take anything away from his ball-carrying ability, either.
Displaying smashing power and deceptive speed turning the corner, he rolled up 948 yards- only 33 less than rushing champ Cookie Gilchrist. Notable among his achievements was a great performance (180 yards on 31 carries) against the Houston Oilers.
Coach Weeb Ewbank, a pretty good judge of talent, calls his big fullback 'a complete football player.' That appraisal is obviously shared by Snell's peers around the league; they voted him Rookie of the Year in 1964."
-Sports All-Stars/1965 Pro Football
"Matt was the Rookie of the Year in the American Football League and he never failed to give an outstanding performance. The powerful fullback set an AFL rookie mark with his 945 yards rushing and finished second in the league to All-Star Cookie Gilchrist. Matt also finished seventh in the league in receiving.
Matt set a Jet mark with 180 yards gained in a game against Houston."
-1965 Topps No. 127
MARK SMOLINSKI
Fullback
No. 30
Wyoming
"The leading New York rusher in 1963, Mark had another fine season in 1964. A good blocker and pass protector, Mark filled in at fullback behind Matt Snell.
He set a Jet record with a 56-yard run from scrimmage. A skilled receiver, Mark could play tight end if the situation warranted it."
-1965 Topps No. 126
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